Separator



March 26, 1940a J. FLETCHER SEPARATOR Filed Dec. 4, 1957 INVENTOR. James Fletcher v ATTORNEY.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 26,- 1940. J. FLETCHER 8 'SEPARATOR Filed D ec. 4, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 2 [4 r a 4. f. 5 43 i i 5 J7 50 J 4 0 INVENTORQ James Hecher March 26, 1940.

' J. FLETCHER 2,194,698

SEPARA'I'OR Fil ed Dec. 4. 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 26, 1940" James Fletcher, Akron,

Babcock & Wilcox Company,

Ohio, assignor to The Newark, N. J., a

corporation of New Jersey Application December 4, 1937, Serial No. 178,182 9 Claims. (Gl. 122-491) The present invention relates in general to the construction and arrangement of the internal parts of a steam generating .unit steam and water drum, and more particularly of internal parts for minimizing the moisture content of the steam leaving the drum.

The main object of the invention is the provision of an improved construction and arrangement of the internal' parts of a steam and water drum adapted for use in a high capacity high pressure steam generating unit for minimizing the moisture carryover from the drum. A more specific object is the provision of a steam and water dru'm internal construction for mini- 5 mizing the disturbance of the drum water level due to the entry into the drum of the discharge from the steam generating tubes.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use. reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a high pressure high capacity steam generating unit of one type to which my invention is particularly applicable;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the steam and water drum shown in Fig. 1 taken on the line 33 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal section taken on the line 6-4! of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken onv the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In. Figs. 1 and 2 is illustrated a high pressure high capacity steam generating unit comprising a fluid cooled two-stage pulverized fuel burning furnace it) arranged below a steeply inclined bank of steam generating tubes ll having their upper and lower ends connected to uptake and downtake headers l2 and I3 respectively. The uptake headers 82 are connected by circulator tubes id to a horizontally arranged steam and water drum l5 extending transversely of the unit a substantial distance above the downtake headers i3. Downcomer tubes it extend between the bottom of the drum i5 and the downtake headers 83. a.

In the space defined by the tube bank Hand the tubes it and it is arranged the economizer and superheater sections of the unit. This space is divided longitudinally of the tube bank by a partition it to iorm a pair of parallel upflow damper controlled gas passes l8 and I9 above the tube bank. The economizer surface is formed by a downfiow bank of return bend water tubes 20 extending across both gas passes and aplurality of upfiow banks of return bend tubes 2| in the gas pass l8, the uppermost tube legs 2| being connected to the drum IS. The superheating surface is formed by vertically spaced banks. of return bend tubes 22 in the gas pass IS with the uppermost tube legs 22 connected to the steam space of the drum l5 by steam outlet tubes 23. The two-stage furnace ID has all of its walls steam passing to the outlet tubes 23 and a mini-. mum steam content in the water entering the downcomer tubes I 6.

The internal construction of the steam and water drum i5 is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5. The normal water level is at or slightly below the drum horizontal center line, as indicated by the broken line 26 in Figs. 3 and 4. As shown, the circulator tubes I4 have a radial connection with the drum along one side thereof in two rows at or slightly above the horizontal center line of the drum. Inorder to minimize disturbance of the water surface in the drum due to impingement thereon of the high velocity streams of steam and water discharged by the tubes l4 and to effect an initial separation of the steam and water, each pair of vertically adjacent circulator tubes 14 are arranged to discharge into a corresponding splash compartment or box 30.

The splash boxes 30 are longitudinally spaced along one side of the drum, as shown in Fig. 4,

and eaehis formed by a vertically extending im pact plate 3|v having a vertical lower portion ti extending from the drum horizontalcenter line I to the drum wall, and an upper inclined portion 31* extending towards but terminating short of the'drum wall at a level slightly above the discharge ends of the upper row of tubes It to provide an opening 32 from the box along the drum wall. The sides of the splash boxes are formed by vertical side plates 33 extending between and secured to theplate 3| and drum wall.

The side plates 33 have their lower edges 34 sub- 'merged and terminating above thecorresponding portion of the drum wall. The upper end of each plate 33 is cut away to form relatively large openings 35 at'the'opposite sides of each boxabove the normal water level.

With this arrangement the steam and water discharged from each pair of circulator tubes I4 is initially directed against the inclined plate portion 3| and deflected downwardly to wards the portion of the drum water space within the corresponding splash box. primary separation of the steam and water is effected in the splash box with the separated water collecting in the water space of the box and eventually flowing therefrom below the opposite side plates, while the wet steam passes outwardly through the top opening 32 and side openings 35.

The velocity of the entering streams of steam and 90 ranged plates 31 extend sired density to the downcomer tubes Hi. The

highest plate 31 is arranged along the plate 3|, and the lowest along the drum wa l.

The streams of steam and water discharged from each group of water wall riser tubes 24 are broken up and dispersed by a pair of horizontally extending perforated plates 38 arranged in the drum water space in the path of the discharge from the tubes 24. The plates 38 are held in the desired position by spacers 39 and supporting 85 members 40 extending across the drum.

' The water wall riser tubes 25 open into the drum |5 above and intermediate the pairs of circulator tubes l4 and the corresponding splash boxes, each tube 25 being provided with a pipe 40 extension 4| which extends across the steam space of the drumto a point adjacent the opposite drum wall portion. The riser tube extensions 4| project-through and are supported by a vertical plate or partition structure 42 extending substantially the full length of the drumand ,having its upper and lower ends terminating short of the corresponding portions of the drum wall. The plates 42 are carried by longitudinally spaced vertical angle bars 43 fitting against and welded to the drum wall. The plate structure 42 forms an elongated space 45 along the drum side opposite the splash boxes, into which space the tubes 25 will thus discharge. The discharge ends of the extensions 4| may be out ch at an angle of 45, as indicated in Fig. 3. The wet steam leaves the space 45 over the top of the plates 42 or through the ends of the space, while the separated water may flow below the lower end of the plate 42 into the central water space.

30 The steam and water drum I5 is also desirably provided with apparatus for washing the steam entering the central portion of the drum. For this purpose the economizer tubes 2| extend through the lower portion of the drum and are 35 connected by nipples 50 extending through the plate sections 3|, to a feed manifold 5| extending longitudinally of the water space of the drum. The feed manifold is connected at longitudinally spaced points to pipes 52 leading upwardly 70 through the drum steam space and discharging between a pair of inverted V-shaped spatter pans 54 which direct the wash water towards opposite sides of the drum. I

A twin type corrugated plate separator is sym- 75 inetrically arranged longitudinally of the upper A relatively rough -mainly confined to these sections. large number of small splash boxes of the con- 40 portion of the drum and comprises a pair of oppositely inclined separator sections at opposite sides of the connections of the steam outlet tubes 23. Each of the sections 80 is formed by a multi plicity of uniformly corrugated parallel plates arranged to form narrow sinuous channels therebetween. The corrugated plates extend from the drum wall to a common bottom plate 6| which-is carried by hook bolts 52 supported by brackets 53 welded to the drum wall. The bottom plate 6| closes the lower end of the plate channels over a major portion of their extent and has its central portion shaped to form a common central moisture collecting chamber 64. Drain pipes ter space are connected to the chamber 64. The flow areas through the separator sections are proportioned to efiect a low velocity steam flow therethrough, which with the described separator and bottom plate arrangement will permit a major portion of the separated moisture to flow down the bottom plates 6| oppositely to the steam flow, A V-shaped perforated plate 65 is arranged at the inner side of the sections 63, forming a common steam collecting space 61 below the outlet tubes 23. Longitudinally extending curves deflecting bailles 63 extend along the opposite sides of the twin type separator to deflect the steam discharged over the upper end of the plates 3| and 42 downwardly'awayfrom the twin type separator and into the pathof the washing sprays. e

With the described arrangement and construction of the drum internal parts all of the steam generated will be subjected to a primary moisture separating action in portions of the drum substantially separate from the main body of water, and the disturbance of the water surface The use of a struction described not only provides a more ef fective treatment of the entering steam and water, but also causes the steam to enter the main portion of the drum throughout its length. Relatively quiescent water conditions will be thus maintained in the main portion of the drum to which the downcomer tubes I8 are connected. The described relative arrangement of the washing sprays, twin type separator, and deflecting baflles insures effective washing of the steam and separation of the moisture remaining in the washed steam before leaving the drum. The drum internal parts are relatively easy to install and render the downcomer tube connections accessible for inspection and cleaning.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described herein the best forms of the invention now known to me, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention covered by my claims, and that. certain features of my invention may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

I claim:

1. In combination, a horizontally elongated steam and water drum having a water space and a steam space, a steam outlet from said steam space, steam generating tube connections opening into and along the length of said drum, and means cooperating with the drum wall to form a-series of separate compartments in and longihaving their lower ends extending into the wa- 1 tudinally spaced apart along one side of said BJQQODB space, steam generating tube connections open ing into and along one side of said drum ,adjacent the normal water level therein, and means cooperating with the drum wall to form a series of separate compartments of rectangular crosssection in and longitudinally spaced apart along one side of said drum, each enclosing the discharge ends of a small group of said tube connections and having a submerged opening in the sides thereof to said water space and a steam exit opening in the upper part thereof to said steam space.

3. In combination, a horizontally elongated steam and water drum having a water space and a steam space, a steam outlet from said steam space, steam generating tube connections opening into and along the length of said 'drum,

means forming a series of separatecompart- 1 ments in and longitudinally spaced apart along one side of said drum, each enclosing the dis-. charge ends of a small group of said tube connections, and said means including an impact plate arranged directly in the path of discharge of said generating tubes, and a pair of side plates extending from the sides of said impact plate to said drum wall, said side plates being constructed to form a submerged opening in the sides of each compartment to said water space and a steam exit opening to said steam space.

4. In combination, a horizontally elongated steam and water drum having a water space and a steam space, a steam outlet from said steam space, steam generating tube connections opening-int and along the length of said drumadjacent the normal water level therein, means forming a series of separate compartments in and longitudinally spaced apart along one side of said drum, each enclosing the discharge ends of a small group of said tube connections, said means including a partly submerged impact plate having its upper end spaced from said drum wall and extending inwardly and downwardly directly into the path of discharge of said tube connections, and a pair of side plates extending from the sides of said impact plate to said drum wall, said side plates being constructed to form submerged openings in the sides of each compartment to said water space and a steam exit opening to said steam space.

5. In combination, a horizontally elongated steam and water drum having a water space and a steam space, a steam outlet from said steam space, steam generating tube connections opening into and along the length of said drum, means forming a series of separate compartments in and longitudinally spaced along one side of said drum, each enclosing the discharge ends of a small group of said tube connections and having a submerged opening'in the sides thereof to said water space and a steam exit opening to said steam space, and a plurality of submerged horizontal bailies arrangedin a stepped formation across each compartment.

6. In combination, a horizontally elongated steam and water drum having a water space and a steam space, a steam outlet from said steam into the path of discharge of said tube connections, a pair of side plates extending from the sides of said impact plate to said drum wall, said side plates being constructed to form a submerged opening in the sides of each compartment to said water space and a steam exit opening to said steam space, and submerged horizontal bailiesarranged longitudinally of said drum in a stepped formation across each compartment.

'7. In combination, a horizontally elongated steam and water drum having a. water space and a steam space, a steam outlet from said steam space, steam generating tube connections opening into and along the length 01' said drum,

means forming a series of separate compartments in and longitudinally spaced along one side of said drum, each enclosing the discharge ends of a small group of said tube connections and having a submerged opening therein to said water space and a steam exit opening at its upper end to said steam space, a steam and water separator in the upper portion '01 said steam space, steam washing means below said separator, and a deflecting baiile on the drum wall between said compartments and said separating means arranged to deflect steam leaving said exit opening towards said steam washing means.

8. In combination, a horizontally elongated steam and water drum having a water space and a steam space, a steam outlet from said steam space, steam generating tube connections opening intoand along the length of said drum, means forming a series of separate compartments in and longitudinally spaced along one side of said drum, each enclosing the discharge ends of a small group of said tube connections and having a submerged opening therein to said water space and a steam exit opening to said steam ing chamber having a steam outlet at its upper end, and steam generating tube connections extending across said drum above said compartments and opening to said chamber through said plate structure.

9. In combination, a horizontally elongated steam and water drum having a water space and a steam space, a steam outlet from said steam space, steam generating tube connections opening into and along the length 01' said drum, and means cooperating with the drum wall to form a series of separate compartments in and longitudinally spaced apart along one side of said drum, each enclosing the discharge ends of corresponding tube connections and having a submerged opening therein to said water space and steam exit, openings to said steam space in the top and in a vertical side thereof extending transversely ot'said drum, and a deflecting bailie Jams mm. 

